Thai Students move Morey's Piers into spring

For many of the college students from Thailand, this two-month stay as workers at the Morey's Piers amusement park would be their first time making their own money and living without parents. They did not know just yet what to think, only that they were excited. Excited and nervous.

no.....just like any other of the tens of thousands of J-1 exchange students who work in American amusement parks each summer, they all receive the same wages, benefits and working conditions as any american would. It would be illegal to do otherwise.

Without the J-1 and H2-B visa programs, many parks would struggle as american labor pools in many areas cannot support the seasonal labor demands of many parks. I wouldn't call it a sweat shop at all...just a creative staffing strategy.

They pay a much smaller percentage of taxes, which computes to about half of what we 'natives' pay. As Hangin and Bangin, says, parks don't have enough help. Morey's also competes with Atlantic City just 40 miles away, with their 55,000+ full time workers. There just isn't the population base in Cape May Co.

Actually, they do pay Federal taxes. For some reason, there is the mis-belief that exchange students do not pay federal taxes. This is not true. Exchange students pay 100% Federal and SDI tax. They are exempt from some State taxes (depending on the state) and SS / Medicare (because they will not receive these services).

Hangin n banging, I didn't say they weren't paid on a legal scale or lacked benefits, but the job IS low paying with long hours and sometimes hot conditions. Anyone who has been to the Jersey shore in July or August knows this (yes, I know this group is here early in the season) It's not a fun job, which sadly is why many of the shore boardwalks and other amusement parks resort to this. My comment was tongue in cheek, thus the comment of an "american" sweat shop.

Sometimes these foreign groups are misled into thinking they have a dream job for the season, only to find out they will be working long hard hours for little pay. In relative terms to their homeland, I'm sure the money is alot to them.

Morey's Piers does not lead them at any given time to the 'sweat shop' theory. Living on an island, with plenty of space to walk about, see the beaches, bars, shops, and bus service to Philly, NY, DC, etc on a daily basis is a good recruiting point. A 40 minute ride to the AC Airport gioves them daily flights to Florida for about $59 one way.

They are not captives for the 'resort proper', say Cedar Point, or Great Adventure, were transportation always needs arranged to even get to the supermarket. I worked at Cedar Point and Conneaut Lake. Know what, its hot. I have been to Wildwood, and know what, its hot. Same sun. Its name is Sol. When it is July, its hot. As the article says, the Thai go home after Memorial Day. I am sure they wish for better weather themselves.

The Thai students actually get one of the best experiences working at Morey's. They come in the late spring to prepare the park during the preseason, then are ride operators, food stand employees, etc for about a month and a half. During this time, they don't have to deal with the heat or sun, and their hours aren't bad.

Their pay is about industry standard, but since they come before the rest of the workers/tourists really come, there isn't much to do on the island. Moreys arranges trips for them to New York and DC, and shopping and activities such as bowling nights and movie parties.